North and south
Posted on | February 19, 2010 | Comments Off
Jeff and I will stay with the Manns (Scout and Frodo) in San Diego for two nights. Then one of them will give us a ride to the trailhead at the Mexican border just south of Campo, California. Jeff and I have hiked north from there to Lake Morena at least three times.
The Manns are a thru-hiking couple, having completed the PCT in 2007. They put up aspiring hikers in their San Diego home, feed us, and take us to the trail. Trail angels. I am eager to meet them and hear some of their trail lore. They have hosted some of the hikers I find most fascinating. And they are good writers. I’m reading their 2007 PCT journal and came across this quote from Scout: “Isn’t there a law that says the words ‘Arctic’ and ‘San Diego’ must never appear in the same sentence?” It reminded me of when I lived in Santa Monica.
Southern Californians expect warm weather. All the time. When it was cool enough that Angelinos were uncomfortable wearing shorts, they would complain. A lot. Railing against the unfairness of the weather. I do not exaggerate. In the Bay Area, though, one never leaves the house without a sweater or jacket. It just isn’t done.
Walk well. God is love.
